Police: House fire may be linked to meth production

MIDDLEBURG, Fla. -- An explosion and fire at a home in Middleburg may be linked to production of methamphetamine, according to a release from Clay County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Mary Justino.

A 911 call came around 9:45 a.m. Thursday morning from a person who lives one street over from where the fire is in the Clay Hill area. They said they saw flames and smoke and reported an explosion.

When rescue personnel arrived at the home in the 1900 block of Openwoods Road, they found the home to be on fire and the windows blown out. The fire was active until just after 11 a.m.

Captain Bernita Bush with Clay County Fire Rescue said a HazMat team is responding to the location. At this time, Bush said, they are working to determine if the home had a methamphetamine lab inside.

Justino said no people were in the home, but first responders found cook-related items in the home. They cannot verify the home was indeed the site of a meth lab until the investigation is complete.

CCSO narcotics detectives will clean up hazardous materials, if needed, Justino said. Detectives are interviewing neighbors to find out who was in the home earlier this morning.

The Fire Marshal is headed to the scene to determine the official cause of the fire.